Today he works on the charity’s salvage crew, taking out kitchens and bathrooms to supply ReStore, the organization’s retail arm.

“It was a long story, but I bumped into a friend of mine several years ago and asked him what he was doing,” Lewis said. “He told me he was involved in (Habitat for Humanity) and I said, ‘That sounds like a great idea,’ and I just took it from there.”

David Lewis, standing, helps his grandchildren build a gingerbread house at Habitat for Humanity’s annual Gingerbread Build on Dec. 8. (Tamar Atik/Scarborough Observer)

On the morning of Dec. 8, a Sunday, he gave his grandchildren a taste of what it’s like to make a difference. The 77-year-old was at the Gingerbread Build with his wife Tillie and grandchildren Oliver, 5, and Amelia, 3.

“It’s a wonderful time, decorating a gingerbread house with our two grandchildren,” Tillie said. “They’re eating more candy (than decorating), but we keep buying it, so that’s fine,” she said, laughing.

“We’d bought (gingerbread houses) before and done them at home,” Tillie said.

But this year, the family decided to try continuing the tradition in a different way. And, they said, they liked it.

“It’s just magical to do something with your grandchildren. Aren’t gingerbread houses traditional with Christmas?” Tillie said. “I think it’s great. And the stuff they provide is wonderful. Can’t ask for a better event.”

It’s rewarding to see families and volunteers come together in this way for the holidays, said Sally Ding, events officer at Habitat for Humanity Toronto.

“(Children) come out and their family pays a donation to the organization, which helps us to fundraise for our home-building efforts, and they have a great time with their family during the holiday season,” Ding said. “If you don’t have kids, another way to make an impact is to purchase a kit for a family in a shelter.

“We’ve partnered up with the Redwood shelter this year. All the kits purchased on their behalf, we’ll be delivering them with special messages from the families who made the donation.”

David Lewis adds piping to the gingerbread house his wife and grandchildren designed at Habitat for Humanity’s 11th annual Gingerbread Build. (Tamar Atik/Scarborough Observer)

David said he loves doing things for the cause.

“I’ve spent enough of my life sitting around boardroom tables and discussing things,” he said. “I’m a great believer in (Habitat for Humanity), being a volunteer and supporting this for about five or six years now.”

And Tillie agreed.

“The idea of doing gingerbread houses is just absolutely unique,” she said.

Last year’s event raised almost $40,000 and Ding said the organization is aiming to exceed $60,000 this year.

Oliver Lewis, 5, puts more candy in his mouth than on the gingerbread house he’s decorating with his sister and grandparents at Habitat for Humanity’s Dec. 8 Gingerbread Build. ‘They’re eating more candy (than decorating),’ grandmother Tillie Lewis said.